Multiple-article carrier of the crown-support type

ABSTRACT

A multiple-article carrier, and blank therefor, of the crownsupport type comprising a bottom panel having means for securing said bottom panel to the carried articles, side wall panels and overlapping top panels. In a preferred form, the carrier also comprises crown-cover panels, locking panels and at least one of the top panels is designed such that it may be interlocked with the bottom panel and with one or more of the articles.

United States Patent [191 Graser 1 Oct. 23, 1973 [541 MULTIPLE-ARTICLE CARRIER OF THE 3,363,928 1/1968 Haufe e131. 294/871 CROWN SUPPORT E 3,281,180 10/1966 Spery 3,156,358 11/1964 Randrup 206/65 E Earl J. Graser, Monroe, La.

Assignee: Olinkraft, Inc., West Monroe, La.

Filed: May 22, 1969 Appl. No.: 826,850

Inventor:

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Schwarz 294/872 Primary ExaminerLeonard Summer Attorney-Wayne Hoover [57] ABSTRACT top panels is designed such that it may be interlocked with the bottom panel and with one or more of the articles.

3 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENIEUHIII 23 1915 3,761,041

SHEET 1 I]? 4 mvsmoa Ear/ J Graser BY W W ATTORNEY PATENTEDUCI 23 I975 SHEET 20F 4 INVENTOR Ear/ J Graser BY TTORNEY PATENTEOncI23 ma 3,767,041 SHEET 3 0F 4 INVENTOR F /6. 5 Ear/ J Graser ATTORNEY MULTIPLE-ARTICLE CARRIER OF THE CROWN-SUPPORT TYPE BACKGROUND This invention relates to a multiple-article carrier. More particularly, this invention relates to a multiplearticle carrier which may be formed from a single blank of sheet material. Still more particularly, this invention relates to a multiple-article carrier of the crownsupport variety.

As is well known, several multiple-article carriers are known in the prior art. In general, these carriers may be classified as basket carriers, wrap-around carriers, and crown-support carriers. It will be appreciated that such classification depends, principaly, on the particular design employed.

A significant disadvantage associated with the prior art carriers, especially the wrap-around and basket types, is that their assembly or loading requires steps of such number or manner of manipulation as to preclude their use in high-speed packaging operations. Moreover, these carriers require an appreciable amount of blank material, thereby increasing their cost.

For the most part, the crown-support carriers do not suffer from the same disadvantages as the wrap-around and basket style carriers; however, these type carriers do not lend themselves to use with articles such as bottles, and the like, since carriers afford little or no support at or near the bottom of the carried articles. Moreover, it has been particularly difficult to fashion prior art carriers of this type from paper, paperboard or like materials.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved multiple-article carrier. Another object of this invention is to provide a multiple-article carrier which can be prepared from a single blank of sheet material. Still another object of this invention is to provide a multiple-article carrier which can be used in high-speed packaging operations. Yet another object of this invention is to provide a multiple-article carrier which can be prepared with a reduced amount of blank material. A still further object of this invention is to provide a multiple-article carrier of the crown-support type which may be fashioned from paper, paperboard or like materials. Yet a further object of this invention is to provide a carrier of the crown-support type which, when erected, provides a rigid package. These and other objects and advantages will be apparent from the description hereinafter set forth and the accompanying drawings.

In accordance with the present invention, the foregoing, and other objects, are accomplished with a carrier prepared from a blank comprising a bottom panel containing means for securing said bottom panel to the carried articles; such as apertures surrounded by starburst cuts, which apertures are located at points corresponding to the location of the articles to be'packaged. In erecting the carrier, the starburst surrounded apertures are forced down over the bottle until the overlapping sections pass the crown or similar projection and engage in a near vertical position under said crown or projection thereby imparting vertical, lateral and longitudinal support to the package. Said blank also comprises side panels and interlocking top panels. When the carrier of the present invention is to be used for packaging more than a single longitudinal row of articles, the blank will comprise crown-cover panels and interlocking top panels which may be depressed so as to engage and lock under the inside edge of the crowns of similar projections of the articles packaged in said carrier thereby providing additional vertical, lateral and longitudinal support to the package.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plane view of a unitary blank cut and scored in a manner necessary to the formation of a carrier as shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a typical package embracing the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a partial end view showing the initial steps required in the assembly of the package as shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is also a partial end view showing the position of the carrier with one step remaining to complete the erection thereof as shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a partial end view of the package shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a partial plain view showing an alternate embodiment of the unitary blank shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a partial end view of a typical package as erected from the blank shown in FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a unitary sheet of blank material which is cut and scored so as to define the bounds of the various panels and other elements on a carrier within the scope of the present invention. The blank may be prepared from paper, paperboard, polymeric materials, etc. The bottom panel, 1, is pivotally connected to side panels, 2 and 3, respectively, along scored fold lines 4 and 5. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the side panels are disposed at the lateral edges of the bottom panel. The side panels, 2 and 3, are also pivotally connected, along longitudinally extending scored fold lines 6 and 7, to crown-cover panels, 8 and 9. The crown-cover panels, 8 and 9, are also pivotally connected, along longitudinally extending scored fold lines 10-10 and 11-11, to top panels, 12 and 13. Top panel, 12, is divided by longitudinally extending scored fold lines, 14-14 and 15, so as to define crownlocking panels 16 and 17. Top panel, 13, is also divided, along longitudinally extending scored fold line 18, so as to define crown-locking panel, 19. As will be pointed out more fully, hereinafter, this further division of top panels, 12 and 13, enable these panels to be depressed into a locked position.

The bottom panel, 1, as shown in FIG, 1, comprises apertures 20-20 and 21-21, which apertures define theinner boundaries of a series of small, adjacent panels, 22-22 and 23-23, respectively. The small, adjacent panels, 22-22 and 23-23, are further defined, respectively, by starburst cuts 24-24 and 25-25, and scored fold lines, 26-26 and27-27, which, respectively, define the outer boundaries of panels 22-22 and 23-23. For convenience, the combination of cut and scored lines which define apertures, 20-20 and 21-21, and adjacent panels 22-22 and 23-23, will be referred to, herein, as starburst apertures. It should be appreciated that although the starburst apertures, as illustrated, are surrounded by 6 adjacent panels, the term as defined is intended to include any number of panels which may or may not be of uniform size. For

example, the number of panels could easily be reduced to four or increased to 12. The bottom panel, 1, as shown in FIG. 1, also comprises apertures, 28-28, which apertures, in part, define locking bars 29-29. Moreover, the bottom panel, 1, is cut so as to define additional locking bars, 30-30.

The crown-cover panels, 8 and 9, comprise crowncovers, 31-31 and 32-32. The crown-cover panels, 31-31 and 32-32, are cut so as to define, respectively, locking edges, 33-33 and 34-34.

Top panel, 12, as shown in FIG. 1, comprises apertures, 28'-28', which apertures are positioned such that they will become aligned with apertures 28-28 when the blank is erected so as to provide a carrier having a double thickness of board throughout the handle area. It will be appreciated that the apertures, 28-28 and 28'-28', cooperate so as to afford means whereby the erected carrier may be lifted and carried. The top panel, 12, as shown in FIG. 1, also comprises cut lines, 35-35 and 36-36, which define, respectively, locking tabs, 37-37 and 38-38. As will be shown more fully, hereinafter, locking tabs 37-37 and 38-38 cooperate with locking bars 29-29 and 30-30 so as to secure the carrier in an erected position. In the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, top panel, 13, is cut-away along cut lines, 39-39, so as to avoid interference with the lifting means provided by apertures 28-28 and 28'-28'.

In order to better understand the present invention, refernce is now made to FIG. 2, which is a perspective view of a package embracing said invention. As can be seen in FIG. 2, the bottom panel, 1, is positioned below the crowns, 40-40 and 41-41. This position is achieved, though not shown, by forcing the crowns 40-40 and 41-41, respectively, through apertures 20-20 and 21-21. It should be noted, that the bottom panel, 1, is positioned sufficiently below the crowns 40-40 and 41-41 so as to enable the inner edges of the adjacent panels, 22-22 and 23-23, which are defined by starburst cuts, to lock under said crowns. As can also be seen, side panels, 2 and 3, are pivoted along scored fold lines 4 and 5 and extend upwardly from said bottom panel. The crown-cover panels, 8 and 9, are pivoted along scored fold lines, 6 and 7, and extend inwardly to cooperate with crown-covers 31-31 and 32-32 crowns as to substantially cover the crown 40-40 and 41-41. The locking panels, 16 and 19, are pivoted about scored fold lines 10-10 and 11-11, and extend downwardly at an angle which enables edges 33-33 and 34-34 (not shown) to lock under crowns 40-40 and 41-41, respectively. As can also be seen in FIG. 2, locking tab 38 engages locking bar 30 and extends below bottom panel, 1, to secure the outer ends of the erected carton. Similarly, though not shown, locking tabs 37-37 engage lcoking bars 29-29 and extend below bottom panel, 1, to secure the central portion of the erected carrier. Moreover, as can be seen in FIG. 2, locking panel 17 is pivoted about longitudinally extending scored fold line, 15, and extends upwardly at an angle which enables the outer edges of said panel to engage or lock under the crowns, 41-41. It will be appreciated that locking panel, 17, cooperates with locking panel, 16, to secure top panel, 12, in the erected position thus providing an extremely rigid container. This double locking of the top panel,

12, is. particularly preferred; however, a sufficiently rigid carrier is obtained when top panel, 12, is interlocked with top panel, 13, or otherwise secured without locking panel, 17, and such carriers are contemplated by the present invention.

To further illustrate the present invention, reference is now made to FIGS. 3-5, which show partial end views of a package prepared with the carrier of the present invention at various stages of erection of the article carrier. FIG. 3 shows the position of the bottom panel, 1, after said panel has been forced over the crowns 4 and 41 with said crowns protruding through apertures 20 and 21 (not shown). As can be seen in FIG. 3, the adjacent panels, 22-22 and 23-23, pivot about scored lines, 26-26 and 27-27, and extend upwardly from bottom panel, 1, with their inner edges locking beneath the respective crowns. As can also be seen, these panels tend to separate along the starburst cuts when the apertures, 20 and 21, are expanded by forcing said crowns through said apertures. It will be appreciated that the extent of separation will be dependent upon the size of the article which is packaged. It will also be appreciated that the strength of the lock created by the panels, 22-22 and 23-23, will be dependent upon the force exerted by said panels in opposition to the aforementioned separation. As will be apparent, this force will be dependent upon the size of the apertures, 20-20 and 21-21, the size of the article to be packaged, and the strength of the material used in preparing the blank. As can also be seen in FIG. 3, when the bottom panel, 1, is in position, the side panels, 2 and 3, can be pivoted about longitudinally extending fold lines, 4 and 5, and extended upwardly from said bottom panel. As can also be seen in FIG. 3, crown-cover panels, 8 and 9, are pivoted along longitudinally extending scored fold lines, 6' and 7, and cooperate'with crown-covers, 31 and 32, to provide coverings for crowns, 40-40 and 41-41, respectively. Moreover, locking panels 16 and 19, can be pivoted along scored fold lines 10-10 and 11-11 to provide locking edges, 33-33 and 34-34 (not shown), which edges are subsequently secured under crowns, 40-40 and 41-41. As can be clearly seen in FIG. 3, top panel, 12, can be pivoted upwardly along scored fold lines, 14-14, thereby freeing locking tabs, 37-37 and 38-38 tp extend downwardly. It will be appreciated, that with the locking device, as shown, it is essential that the locking tabs, 37-37 and 38-38, extend downwardly and assume a substantially vertical position so that they may first be engaged with locking bars, 29-29 and 30-30 (not shown), and then rotated to a position below said bottom panel. FIG. 4 is a partial end view of 'a package comprising the carrier of the present invention showing all panels, except top panel 12, in their final erected position. It can be seen in FIG. 4, that side panels, 2 and 3, extend upwardly from bottom panel, 1, to a point of termination corresponding to scored fold lines 6 and 7. It will be appreciated, that in a preferred embodiment of the present invention,

scored fold lines 6 and 7 will be positioned such that the crown-cover panels 8 and 9 and the corresponding crown-covers 31-31 and 32-32, will fold firmly overthe crowns, 40-40 and 41-41, respectively. As can also be seen in FIG. 4, top panel 13 is brought into position prior to top panel 12. As top panel 13 is brought into position, locking panel 19 pivots about scored fold lines, 11-11, and extends downwardly at an angle which positions locking edges, 34-34 (now shown), such that these edges will remain secured under crowns, 41-41, when the carrier is lifted. As is also shown in FIG. 4, the top panel 13 pivots along longitudinally extending scored fold line 18 and assumes, a position, when said carrier is erected, substantially parallel to and adjacent with the bottom panel, 1. With the top panel, 13, in position, the top panel, 12, is rotated about longitudinally extending scored fold lines, 14-14, to a substantially vertical position and the locking tabs, 37-37 and 38-38, are positioned such that said tabs contact locking bars, 29-29 and 30-30, and extend fully below said locking bars. The top panel, 12, is then rotated downwardly to lock same in the erected position.

FIG. 5 is a partial end view of a package prepared with the carrier of the present invention showing the position of all panels when the erection is complete. As can be seen in FIG. 5, the position of top panel, 12, is fixed at one end by the securing of locking tabs, 37-37 and 38-38, under locking bars, 29-29 and 30-30 such that said tabs extend below bottom panel, 1. As can also be seen in FIG. 5, locking panel, 17, pivots about longitudinally extending scored fold line and then extends upwardly at an angle such that the outer edges of said locking panel are secured under crowns, 41-41.

FIGS. 6 and 7 relate to alternate embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a partial plane view of a blank comprising the modifications encompassed by said alternate embodiments. As shown in FIG. 6, the top panel, 13, as shown in FIG. 1, has been modified so as to comprise locking tabs, 42-42. These locking tabs are pivotally connected along scored fold lines, 44-44, to locking panel 19'. Said locking tabs, comprise tuck tabs, 43-43, which tabs are defined by scored fold lines 45-45. It will be appreciated, that when this alternate embodiment is employed, it will be necessary to alter the steps employed in erecting the carrier. Also, as shown in FIG. 6, perforated lines, 46-46, can be extended from the cut-lines defining the boundaries of crown-covers, 32'-32', across the side wall, 3', to the starburst cuts, '-25, to facilitate removal of the articles from the carrier. It will be appreciated, however, that the articles can be removed by twisting and/or pulling said articles downwardly, to free the crown or other projection from the starburst aperture, without the necessity of such perforated lines.

FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view of a package comprising a blank as shown in FIG. 6. As can be seen in FIG. 7, top panel, 12', is first brought into place by engaging locking tabs, 37-37 and 38-38, with locking bars, 29-29 and -30, and then rotating said top panel such that said locking tabs become disposed below the bottom panel, 1 and the locking panel, 17', is secured below the crowns, 41'-41'. The locking panel, 19, is then rotated about longitudinally extending scored fold lines, ll'll, and extended downwardly such that locking edges, 34-34', are secured below the crowns, 4l'4l', and the locking tabs, 42-42 pushed through apertures 28"-28" and 28"28', such that the tucking tabs, 43-43, extend below the bottom panel, 1. It will be appreciated that all elements of the present invention correspond substantially to those already describedwith respect to FIGS. 1-5, except for the newly added lockingtabs, 42-42, the components thereof, and perforated lines, 46-46.

In general, the multiple-article carrier of the present invention can be used to package any number of articles. It will be appreciated, however, that for practical reasons, the carrier of the present invention will be most suited for the packaging of from two to about 12 articles. Moreover, it should be noted that although the carrier of the present invention has been illustrated by reference to a carrier designed for packaging six articles in a two by three arrangement, the carrier of the present invention could, through only slight modification, be made suitable for use with a single row of articles or with more than two rows of articles. For example, it is contemplated that the carrier, as illustrated, could be easily modified to facilitate packaging of twelve articles in a four by three arrangement.

In general, the carrier of the present invention can be used to package any article having a crown or other projection which extends outwardly from the article a sufficient distance to enable the panels to be secured in the manner herein described. In this regard, it should be noted that the carrier of the present invention could be used to package any articles having a protrusion ,in the upper portion thereof, e.g., a neck flange, which extends outwardly from said article a sufficient distance to permit the various panels to be locked in the manner herein described. Moreover, it should be noted that the bottom panel of the carrier of the present invention could be positioned prior to placing the crowns on said bottles. Further, it should be noted that substantially any method, known in the prior art, could be used to lock the carrier in an erected position. The method of locking, as herein described and illustrated, is, however, particularly preferred.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the blank, as shown in FIG. 1, is cut from paperboard. The carrier is used to package six or eight containers such as those described in US. Pat. No. 3,372,826, which issued to Richard A. Heaton on Mar. 12, 1966, which containers comprise an upper portion of glass and a lower portion of a less frangible material, such as a low or medium molecular weight polyethylene. Packaging in a two by three or two by four arrangement is preferred, and packaging in a two by three arrangement is particularly preferred. Further, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the carrier will comprise locking tabs such as those illustrated in FIG. 6 and designated, 42-42.

Although the present invention has been described and illustrated by reference to particular embodiments, it will be readily apparent that the present invention lends itself to various modifications which will be obvious to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, reference should be made solely to the appended claims to determine the scope of the invention.

Having thus described and illustrated the present invention, what is claimed is:

1. A multiple-article carrier blank comprising: a bottom panel, said bottom panel comprising means for securing same to the upper portion of a carried article and means for interlocking same with a top panel; a side panel pivotally attached to each of the lateral edges of said bottom panel; a crown-cover panel pivotally attached to each of said side panels; a top panel pivotally connected to each of said crown-cover panels, each of said top panels comprising a crown-locking panel, and at least one of said top panels being fashioned such that same may be depressed downwardly when said blank is converted to a carrier and comprising means for interlocking same with said bottom panel; and a locking panel pivotally connected as an integral part of said top panel, said locking panel being capable of holding said top panel in a depressed state through a locking engagement with one or more articles when said blank is converted to a carrier.

2. The multiple-article carrier blank of claim 1 wherein said means for interlocking said bottom panel with said top panel is a plurality of locking bars and said means for interlocking said top panel with said bottom panel is a plurality of locking tabs.

3. A package comprising a multiple-article carrier in combination with two or more articles, said carrier comprising a bottom panel, said bottom panel being secured by suitable means to said articles with a portion of each article extending upwardly through an aperture in the bottom panel; a side panel pivotally attached to each of the lateral edges of said bottom panel and extending upwardly therefrom; a crown-cover panel pivotally attached to each of said side panels at the top thereof and extending inwardly from the point of pivotal attachment; a top panel pivotally connected to each of said crown-cover panels and extending, generally, inwardly from the point of pivotal connection, each of said top panels being depressed downwardly such that a portion of each of said panels is secured under a protuberance extending outwardly from said articles at or near the top thereof and at least one of said top panels being secured to said bottom panel; and a locking panel, pivotally attached as an integral part of the same top panel which is secured to said bottom panel, which locking panel extends upwardly from the point of pivotal attachment such that the free-end thereof is secured under a protuberance extending outwardly from at least one of said articles.

* i IR UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent: No. I 3,767,041 a e October 23, 1973 lnvent fl Earl J. Graser It is certified that error appears in the above-{identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 1, line 15 change "principa'ly" to -principally-.

Column 2, line 52 change "Fig," to -Fig.--.

Column 3, line 29 change "refernce" to --reference.

Column 3, line 45 after 32-32 delete "crowns" and insert .so-.

Column 3, line 54 change "looking" to --locking.

Column 4, line 9 change "4" to ----40--.

Column 4, line 43 after 38-38 change "tp" to --to--.

Column 4, line 59 after "crown covers" insert Signed and sealed this 25th day of June 197 (SEAL) Attest:

" [EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. c. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer A 3 Commissioner of Patents 

1. A multiple-article carrier blank comprising: a bottom panel, said bottom panel comprising means for securing same to the upper portion of a carried article and means for interlocking same with a top panel; a side panel pivotally attached to each of the lateral edges of said bottom panel; a crown-cover panel pivotally attached to each of said side panels; a top panel pivotally connected to each of said crown-cover panels, each of said top panels comprising a crown-locking panel, and at least one of said top panels being fashioned such that same may be depressed downwardly when said blank is converted to a carrier and comprising means for interlocking same with said bottom panel; and a locking panel pivotally connected as an integral part of said top panel, said locking panel being capable of holding said top panel in a depressed state through a locking engagement with one or more articles when said blank is converted to a carrier.
 2. The multiple-article carrier blank of claim 1 wherein said means for interlocking said bottom panel with said top panel is a plurality of locking bars and said means for interlocking said top panel with said bottom panel is a plurality of locking tabs.
 3. A package comprising a multiple-article carrier in combination with two or more articles, said carrier comprising a bottom panel, said bottom panel being secured by suitable means to said articles with a portion of each article extending upwardly through an aperture in the bottom panel; a side panel pivotally attached to each of the lateral edges of said bottom panel and extending upwardly therefrom; a crown-cover panel pivotally attached to each of said side panels at the top thereof and extending inwardly from the point of pivotal attachment; a top panel pivotally connected to each of said crown-cover panels and extending, generally, inwardly from the point of pivotal connection, each of said top panels being depressed downwardly such that a portion of each of said panels is secured under a protuberance extending outwardly from said articles at or near the top thereof and at least one of said top panels being secured to said bottom panel; and a locking panel, pivotally attached as an integral part of the same top panel which is secured to said bottom panel, which locking panel extends upwardly from the point of pivotal attachment such that the free-end thereof is secured under a protuberance extending outwardly from at least one of said articles. 